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The Moor Elves

Solus

object oriented
Staff member
Admin
Retired Owner
The Moor Elves

Deities - None in favor, The Grey Lady, Skraag, Deceased Queen Grief
Location - Rocky Caves, Isles, or near the Ashlands/Volcanoes of the Eastern Kingdom
Clans - Varies, As there are several.
Allied/Friends - Many are not fond of ‘em... Not fond of any of ‘em.



History

Origins

As the Dread Queen Grief, the Queen of Corruption, grew into power - She sought to create creatures that would follow her bidding. She found the once so-called High Elves of the past, creations of the Goddess Shalherana, and manipulated their whole being into her ideal creature of corruption, The Corrupted Elves. Then the gods and mortals devised a plot to destroy the Dread Queen, once and for all. Upon victory and henceforth- Her death, her presence and influence has long since disappeared from the realm of Altera.. as well as from the Corrupted Elves for centuries. They no longer abide by the corruption of Queen Grief, a fading memory of oppression, and to this day - they have shed their past looming title- becoming their own sub-culture of Elves.. The Moors.​


Physiology

Build
Slender, tall creatures; The Noblest of Moors are usually seen straight-backed and stand tall regardless of their height ranges. The essence of pride and self-worth are present in their stable pose when in the company of others. Few Male and Females have broad shoulders- many tend to stay slim in width after full maturity in growth due to high metabolisms which is fairly common in the race of Elves. The ease in movement and stealth comes in the less weight they carry and their lean shaped body. Their movements are elegant, sharp and calculative. Those in Middle, lesser Clans and poverty stand loosely, hunched over on occasions due to a lifetime of servitude in the presence of others.​

Moors have more sharper features upon the face than Forest and Silver Elves. Diamond shaped faces are the most common shape of the face along with narrowed-slanted eyes, sharp high-cheek bones, pointed-thin ears, and sculpted jawlines. Their lips are thin and their noses narrow.​
As they near the last years of their life, they grow more crooked in stature, becoming stooped and relying on structural aids while their bones become weak and faulty.​

Moorcolors.png

Skin
Different shades of the color of stone- light grey, dark grey, to deep dark-black. Similar to the color of mist or the night sky. During their young age until the olden years, the skin is flawless without blemishes, discoloration and healthy.​
During the olden years, wrinkles would form about the face, as well as dark odd spots upon the skin, signifying a nearing of Death.​
Edit 12/30/18: There are no longer any new Albino Moors accepted as it is a rare trait and enough current players carry it.​

Eyes
From the darker reaches of the Color spectrum, the color of the eyes only range from shades of purple/violet, shades of brown, or black. As there is a chance of faultiness of the eyes, blindness occurs within the Moors during the later years due to Old Age- their eyes turn milky white.​


Hair
White, Shades of Grey, or Black.​
Hair styles tend to differ between each Moor or Clan. Within all Clans, the length of hair is a cultural tradition of sorts. Males and Females would keep their hair long to braid it. Due to their slow aging, it is hard to tell their true age, thus the braid length shows approximately how long the Moor Elf has lived. Some even keep it trimmed to certain lengths to show their true age range, though not too accurate, as hair tends to grow longer than necessary:​
  • Short cropped - Shoulder: Youth
  • Chest length - Waist length: Maturity
  • Kneecap length - Ankle length: Olden Years
Not all Moors keep to this code- and it is an Ancient Clan tradition that has started to fade off as many keep their hair clean cut and short or up to a certain amount, with or without braids. In few cases, Female Moors do keep to the ancient traditions of hair length while the Males have been known to do otherwise.​


Voice
The tone of both gender’s of the Moor is a more deeper, raspy voice than the childish Forest Elves or graceful Silver Elves. Wherein speaking in a normal tone or a whisper, the deep voice can seem almost soothing and alluring. Raising the voice for a more powerful effect of tone would take on the same traits. While shouting would bring about a sound that comes off as loud, crude and scratchy. It depends on how loud and what the condition it was for raising the voice. The Male voice is several notches lower than the Female voice.​

Hearing
Moor Elven ears are perceptive to picking up sounds or loud hushed whispers from across taverns. Their hearing ranges are a bit longer than humans- and fair between the other sub-cultures of Elves, as well as the Nakam. As humans can hear muffled whispers through walls, Moor Elves are able to distinguish words spoken and tones when doing the same. During their first few years of life- their perceptive hearing would not have developed into its full potential until maturity. After that- there is a gradual decline in hearing during the later years near death. Even in maturity, their sensitive perception of hearing brings about a fault. Moorish ears are vulnerable to loud, harsh sounds. Sounds can become irritable from loud noises and in fatal cases - incapacitated.​


Eyesight
Moor eyesight is sharp and quick in normal atmospheres.. and fairly good during the mature age. They are accustomed to easily adjusting in dark lighting and shadows. Objects and obstacles are quickly spotted whilst moving around. Because of this trait, they tend to avoid overly bright atmospheres. Bright sunlit rooms are temporarily stayed in. Moors that stay in such settings (constant-constant sunlight) for a long span of time and age (About 3/4ths of their life time)- would see some irritation in eyesight- perhaps a faint blurriness when there is a sudden change from light to dark lighting. Even Moors who keep to dull lighted atmospheres find it irritating upon the eyes when there is a sudden change of light. Many wear hoods to cover their eyes partially so that constant sunlight may not affect them in the long term. Once reaching an older age- the eyesight becomes more faint and strained- and many fall into blindness once nearing death.​

Height
Listed is the average height range of males and females during full maturity in growth which is achieved near the start of maturity.​
Males: 6”0​
Females: 5”8​
Note: Heights for Moors are at a maximum of 6'6 as per the Elven lore page.

Weight
Listed is the average weight range of males and females during full maturity in growth which is achieved near the start of maturity.​
Males: 170 lbs​
Females: 130 lbs​

Lifespan
From Birth to Death, life for the Moor tends to sway from free and long lasting to cautious and short. The average oldest members of the race live from around 250~300 years. Though it’s quite rare and many tend to die young due to illness or unfortunate deaths.​
Once Moors have entered into mature stages of their growth, about their 20s- their physical appearance would start to slow down in aging. They retain a youthful look for over a hundred years or more- nearing well into their older years, about 250s- in which they begin to show signs of old age. During their last few years of life- their aging appearance quickens once more. Their muscles and joints start to become frail. Their physical stature becomes more crooked- fingers curled a bit, they slouch more often, and they move whilst hunched over. Most become weaker than their healthiest state.​
During times of stress or great strain, the natural slow pacing of aging tends to quicken, regardless of the age range. Even when reaching maturity in growth and straying far from their olden years, Moors end up gaining wrinkles early or show signs of it.​
The life cycle of a Moor is similar to other Elves. They grow from birth until maturity, retain physical features of youthfulness and usually obtain healthy lifestyles for long lifespans, then grow older upon reaching their olden years. A typical Moor would be in extra care and protection away from curious outsiders during their childish years. The child is taught the basics of walking and speaking simple words in the ancient language of the race, Mok’yra. As they grow, they’re usually taught about their culture amongst others in their household. Once a young Moor briefly reaches maturity in growth, there comes instances where most believe they know much about the world- and so they try to ‘spread their wings’. Their grasp on reality is thin and they are easily swayed this way and that. Much like sponges just waiting to soak things up- this is the time in which they take in all the information around them as they can.​
During mature growth, around 20s and later on, - height is usually at its maximum peak. Weight tends to fluctuate depending on the Moor’s lifestyle. As stated earlier, high metabolisms would keep the weight fairly on average in alignment to one's height. You’d rarely ever find an overweight Moor- if at all. A typical Moor would find their path in life- whether it be through purpose, hardship, family, etc. In this age- they take what they learn and make use of it. During the later end of the spectrum- and in times of stress, many Moors during this age start to gain faint wrinkles upon the face. Few Elders are in this age range as they are still considered too young to lead others. But those who do enter into the higher ranks attain it due to their health, quick wits, and strong drive for leadership.​
Once reaching the olden years, one has most likely reached their peak in knowledge and growth. The young would look to them for guidance and some find the need to teach the young so that the culture and traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Those who have reached this age are considered worthy to be Elders, and many do become one. Wrinkles, discoloration in the skin due to odd spots, and the loss of senses start to spring forth. These features don’t start up quickly, they gradually happen during this period of time. Loss of senses include a gradual decline in hearing, faint blindness and a weakness in the joints and bones. The sense of taste and smell dulls, but they are still considered stable senses.​


Pregnancy
Fertility rates among the Moor Elves is fairly low. Though they are more passionate for companionship than other Elven sub-cultures- the need to repopulate is as low as it is for the Forest and Silver Elves, even lower as they find it discouraging to keep too many children to attention. Most couples are satisfied with one or two children. The ones already spawned require great care and detailed attention, otherwise they tend to bring shame to the Clan if left to themselves to learn and grow.​
Single parenthood occurs often enough for some reason as Moors find their race tends to meet unexpected deaths. Life as a single parent is fairly common and not a shunning factor. Depending on the single parent’s class status and Clan link, they’d either live in ease while raising a child with the aid of other Clan members or struggle under poverty and lack of a strong Clan community. The latter parent usually relies on outside help or struggle with raising a child while balancing life as there’s a lack of immediate Clan members to help. This is why most Moors decide not to have children without planning ahead and having a bit of a supportive lifestyle. The lack of interest in repopulating is a major factor alongside it.​
Half Bloods: Moors are only able to mate with other sub-cultured Elves and Humans. Along with that- They are only physically attracted to other Sub-Cultured Elves or Humans. There are no half Moor - half Dwarves running around, unfortunately.​
There are no mixed-blood race traits.

Once the child is birthed- it’s either a Moor or the other race in terms of genetics, taking on either all of the mother’s race traits (skin color/tone, eye color, etc.), or the father’s. Although Moors and other races do not tend to get along, it is not uncommon to find a half-blooded Moor among the Clans. Half bloods who are anything other than a Moor- are never considered to be a Moor; most are shunned by the race.​


Genetics/Ailments/Select Illnesses
Moors Elves are a Sub-Culture of Elves. They carry an elven genetic trait, hailing from Corrupted Elves who were spawned by (the now deceased) Queen Grief. Majority of Moors are generally physically healthy as well as mentally, especially those of Noble birth. There are fairly few to barely any causes and occurrences of deformity from birth. Physical ailments- such as when one gains scars or deformation upon losing limbs caused by outside interference - are generally tolerated in society as it is clearly understood in the Moor mindset that life for them as a race is always cruel and harsh. Managing to live with a physical deformity is a great feat in itself- as it shows they managed to live for another day. Some Moors even compare scars and injuries in order to show who’s the more fittest for surviving. Physical ailments from birth, however- such as albinism, muteness or such- are rare and even then would occur in the lesser Clans- many having been abandoned to slavery or the cruel world to fend for themselves.​
Hysterical disorders such as the following - Paranoia, Depression, Bipolarity, etc. and frequent Aggressiveness- are cases found in Moors.. where the constant negative pressure from others, outside races or stress drive them to this state. Culturally- Moors who are categorized into such, of the body and mostly the mind of hysterics and insanity, and openly show their unstable state, are generally avoided and are borderlined on toleration - as they tend to bring a wave of bad luck, death and unwanted attention. Especially those of lighter skin and those of lesser Clans. Noble blooded Moors who have such ailments, however are shielded from the eyes of the public and kept safe within the closeness of their Clans if they can be healed. Otherwise, they are shunned as outcasts so that the Clan can keep their bloodline pure, sane and healthy. As Moors near the end of their lifeline- there is a small chance of risks to Arthritis or Dementia. But most Moors do not live long enough to reach old age.​
Terms for Clinical disorders used above are not names that are used in the time-period that Altera is in. It’d mostly be categorized as insanity or simpler terms such as hysteria, nervousness, and etc.​
Note: Because it has to be said.. 99.9999% of Moors, and pretty much any other race, do not have multiple personality disorders. Nor do they have mental or physical disorders of mindless killing impulses, lust for severe torture and insane driven. Tread these traits carefully and maturely.


Clan/Last Names
Last names signify Clan names, the kinship group of a Moor. Once a Moor joins a new Clan, they discard their last one, taking on a new last name as well. [More in Hierarchy below]​


Temperament/Personality

Briefly similar to temperaments of short-tempered Humans and pride of Elves. They can be indifferent, cautious, prideful, crooked- yet they do not embody all that is considered such monotonous traits. They are loyal, respectful of those deemed worthy, clever, tolerant, oath keepers, curious and devoted to their family, passions and desires.​

Moors are the least-cheery among the other sub-cultured Elves, yet they do not lack emotions- nor do they hide it. Their body language shows their motives and inner workings, as well as their current temperaments. By observing such things, one can learn to be careful around Moors- If one treats a Moor with respect, the Moor would do so in return, or perhaps hold a tolerance at least. Other traits such as loyalty and curiosity are also reciprocal. The same can be said otherwise... Disrespect a Moor, and disrespect will be returned.​
“Openly malicious and don’t care who knows it, but will keep their word faithfully and be generous and fair-minded in their dealings with others.”

A stem of dislike for other races has grown for decades. Most Moors have a tendency to have a strong sense of caution and alertness of others. This sense comes from the constant, unwanted prejudices that came long since the fall of Grief. They can be wary, suspicious, and uncertain of others due to the race’s past discrepancies. In return for the prejudice against them- they treat others in a similar fashion- as not all of them have reconciled with those who have previously persecuted them for past doings. A few find it hard to gain immediate trust of others- and they keep to themselves or close ones. After a time of reflection or in other cases, there are occasions where reconciliation is gained and trust is freely built.​
Moor Elves are considered silent creatures, keeping to themselves and shadows in times of large gatherings/crowds. They tend to prefer time spent alone or with a select respectful few. This unsociable nature of theirs has led just a few Moors into wanderers. They grow to live separately from many of their Blood Families as they come of age to travel. They can be found living alone on mountain keeps or deep underground in caves. Yet, living alone can become quite tiring when the race itself has such a long life-line, as all Elven races do. Long term companionship is often sought out- thus, the majority of Moor Elves live in small clusters close to their own Blood. The company and strength in numbers bring pride and security from common unwanted threats from other races. The bonds they create with their companions relies on respect, loyalty and trust in order to establish strong ties. Especially within their immediate Clan.​
Although they can be aggressive beings when provoked, and silent beings when left alone- Moors have a curiosity to things and creatures. Their suspicious nature tends to lead them to become overly questionable towards others and piq interest upon other causes and effects of occurrences. One of the few states this rests upon are towards hobbies, work, people, trouble, causes and other passions. Their long lifespan is also the cause of this drive to find a passion to live for, secrets to seek, alongside a search for companionship.​
If one drive is lost, they find another.​


Hierarchy
The Moor Clans

“...Organized into "Houses" -- the term doesn't refer so much to what kind of dwellings they inhabit as to extended kinship groups...They take a great pride in tracing their lines of descent and keeping track of all their inter-House alliances and so forth.”

Moors are organized into Clans, Blood Families. Each Clan holds a family of parents and offsprings, sometimes along with close blood relatives. As the family line extends to other lesser blood-related relatives, different clans start to spring up. Two cousins would most likely end up being in two different clans. The Elder of the Clan is the Patriarch of the Clan. In rare occasions, Elders can be female if there are no immediate male members to take up the rank. They are those who provide wisdom or protection to their following. They hold the official decisions concerning their Kinship group and lead them through tough ordeals. The Elder of a clan may not necessarily be the oldest.. but the more wisest, strongest, wealthiest or quickest thinker in times of crisis or events.​

A new Clan
  • An Elder + a following: A new Clan begins when one has an Elder and a following. The following must include at least two others, excluding the Elder. So long as the Clan makes its way to be well known among the Moors- be it through direct relations or through word of mouth- they become recognized as a full Clan, one of their own, by the society of Moors, a New Clan.
Maintaining a Clan
  • The Elder: So long as the Elder of a Clan is alive and able to keep their members in check, alive, and satisfied- the Clan maintains a lively state.
Death of the Clan
The end of a Clan, turning a Clan into a “Dead Clan”, occurs with the lack of an Elder or the death of its members. The members disperse and become “wanderers”, avoiding large gatherings and keeping to themselves at all times. They are usually ignored. In some cases, members of a Dead Clan can bond themselves to a willing existing Clan, converting their previous Clan lineage to merge with the new one. Other cases:​
  • Death of the Elder: The death of the Elder signifies a break amongst a Clan. The guide and leader is taken away from the factor- and so if a new Elder is not selected quickly, an ‘heir’ to the Clan, the Clan breaks apart as quick as the death.
  • The Elder forfeits their leadership: Once an Elder quits the role by choice, the Clan is subject to dissolving if another Moor does not take up the slot. The Elder in question is subject to abandoning their role and cast aside as an outsider and exiled by their Bloodline.
  • Death upon the Clan members: During large massacres of the Clans- Death of the majority members of the Clan signifies a break. If an Elder cannot keep the Clan together, the Clan name, bloodline, or lineage is prone to be halted, all traces of the Clan disappearing. The Clan name would be considered dead..
  • In the past- Clan massacres meant being targeted by another Clan and occurred during many disputes and Wars. In the current Era- Clan massacres by a Moor Clan is deemed unlawful in the Political Moor realm and would be under scrutiny by other Clans- resulting in pursuit of removing the assailing Clan and it’s members. …- if and only if they are found out and tried against- Though it is pretty obvious when one Clan takes part in Clan massacres.
  • In other cases - Clan massacres were when Clans were targeted by outsiders: Dwarves, Humans, and Barbarians, etc.. for many reasons. Territorial gains, racism, bad blood between the Clan and the outsiders in question. This was one of the largest reasons a Clan dissolved.

Bonding Clans

Marriage:​
A merging of two Clans through the link and marriage of two entities. The new couple would take on the more powerful and Noblest Clan names. The two Clans and bloodlines would join in power, wealth, and land.​
Willful Bonding:
An agreement between two Elders of their respectful houses in which they join Clans, resources, ideals, responsibility. The more renowned, powerful and nobler Elder of the two would become the Elder of the new Clan. They would take on the more nobler Clan names.​
Or- an agreement between an Elder of a Clan and members of a Dead Clan to join together.​

Ranking of Clans
A Hierarchy within a Hierarchy

The Noble Clans [The Hal’Mar Class (Meaning Upper Class in Mok’yra)] - Few wealthy Clans who have the most direct and longest reaching bloodline since the beginning of Moors - uninterrupted by outside bloodlines. The Noble Clans are praised and highly respected by all other Clans. The old bloodline is considered sacred and a blessing for they are direct living relatives of a long lineage of Noble Moors. They strictly keep to the cultural traditions of the Moors. And the Elder is kept in high regard and respected over all else. They take on occupations of Leadership and value skills of command, combat and healing over all else. Authority figures, Generals and Physicians are praised workings of the Noble Clans. There are only a few well known Noble Clans in the world.

Consists of Pure-Bloods of darker-grey to mid-greyish complexions. Their hair fair ranging from pure white to whitish grey. Rarely would you find a Half-Blood here, if at all. Offsprings of Purebloods that are Half-Blooded or are of lighter skin used to be forced into slavery. Now some are outcased to the wilds, or kept in their ranks with great distaste and discrimination. Half-Bloods who do not take on the Moor genetic-trait most definitely become outcasts, abandoned by the Noble Clans.
Example: Harrowin Hal’Uvath. Some prefer to not use the prefix of Hal’... Harrowin Uvath.​
The Middle Class Clans [The Mol’Mar Clans (Meaning Middle Class in Mok’yra)] - Consists of small bodied Clans. The Middle Class Clans are family clusters that tend to average lifestyles. They make up the working class- those of trade, business, farming, blacksmithing, and the militia, etc. - Though they are in positions of authority in their business. They tend to service others through their work more so than themselves and have done so for centuries. Not many find it necessary to climb the social ladder- though they make sure never to fall from its graces and wealth.

Consists of Pure-Bloods of few darker complexions and few lighter ones. Hair ranges from whitish grey to dark grey and blacks. Harbors few Half-Bloods of both Moor and Non-Moor genetic-traits.
Example: Laoka Mol’Nazish. Some prefer not to use prefixes.. Loaka Nazish.​
Peasants/Servant Clans [The Tel’___ Clans] (The Prefix Tel’ meaning “Servant”)] - As with any structure, there are figures who do the brunt and back-end work beneath nobles and the middle class folk. The Servant Clans were integrated long ago- and consisted of some clusters of un-educated Moors- those who were descendants of the exiled, from dead clans, previous slaves, or had no coin to live on, etc.. They were in servitude to others for their lifetimes, dealing with the lowest jobs and work available in Noble Households or under Middle Class Clans. Some examples being as maids, homemakers, caretakers, farmhands, dockhands, etc. Sometimes catering to a specific Clan and none else. Their own descendants usually being prone to the same lifestyle. In return for their devotion and work, they were given shelter and/or coin. Outsiders would consider Servant Clans barbaric and an exploitation of fellow people. But in the Moorish Clans, this rank is viewed as a necessary part in their average lifestyle as the support of the Tel’ and their work make up a good portion of Moors- right next to Mol’Mar Clans. Servant Clans are a way for Noble Clans to extend their influence.. many Servant Clans were under servitude to Noble Clans.

Mixed traits of skin tone and hair color. Consists of mostly Half-Bloods, of both Moorish and non-Moorish traits. Hal’Mars and Mol’Mars who have fallen from graces. Descendants of Exiled Moors, captured, those tried for treasons, those of lighter skin, disfigured, those with physical/mental ailments, etc.
Example: Yasinya Tel’Maht​
Clanless - The Exiled or those who have forsaken all ties to Moors are in this category. They are considered the lowest of the low and are not treated with respect or dignity. They are outsiders who carry no Clan name.

...There is no way to move up in Rank once you forsake ties to the Moors.
 
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Solus

object oriented
Staff member
Admin
Retired Owner
Society

Habitat/Settlements
Far from thick civilization, away from wandering souls, the Moors have raised their growing Clans among secluded areas. Being familiar with the dark and shadows, the cool temperatures of caves and deep or high, cold mountains are a preferred habitat for Moors. Many live in sturdy stone structures, large and small. Currently, some Moors have adapted to urban houses that humans have long abandoned, or have started to build some themselves to that of similar structures. Though, many still prefer the cold, stable structures of stone buildings, caves, or mountains.​
During the Last Exodus, few Moor Clans came over to the land that we live on to this day, the Northern Kingdoms. They lived from place to place, growing apart from each other, never settling down- for there was no place they could call home. No place they were welcomed enough to stay long term. There was a large Clan that came to settle among the swamps of Altera at one time- growing large enough to pull others under its wings, named after their clan- but the village was soon broken off and was left abandoned by those in charge.​
Today- some are still wandering- searching for a place to call home. Among the searchers, there are whispers of some Moors who have flocked together around these stable established settlements..​
Linlea [Grey Isles] - a large array of secluded, rocky isles to the far east of the Easternlands. Many Moors have now settled upon the urban houses around the secluded, cold and windy climate. The stone building and atmosphere, as well as the fresh seascape is its major appeal. Ruled under the Kov'Gra'Sek Clan.​
Natri'Evar [Nah-trii Eih'varh] - A meadow like forest landscape, cold and breezy. It's found by the volcanic lakes. Capital of the Shink'maho clan, it's silence is often something the Moors easily accustom to.​
Garrosh'lek [Gah-r'sh lehk] - The port and storage of Shink'maho. It's much colder and more unforgiving than Natri'Evar, though not uninhabitable. A place for Moors wishing to expand further north.​

Beliefs
Family-
Families, Clans, are greatly valued and treasured in Moorish culture. The Elders are regarded with respect due to their wisdom and long-life. Their knowledge is sought after and their guidance is always needed. The young are looked after so that they may learn about their culture and grow up to bring pride to their families and race. They are protected and taught throughout their growth. It is expected of the young to respect their elders- those who talk back, disobey, or go out of line are punished within their own family boundaries and rules. If young ones are not cared for by immediate family members, as some can become neglected due to the family’s other interests- An Elder of another Clan takes it upon themselves to teach or punish the brat. Those who listen are rewarded with love and care in return.​
Close blood families are tightly knit Clans- relying on each other for support. As blood lines thin from sibling to sibling, or even longer- there comes some friction as to who has the right to become the next Elder of the Clan. It is usually decided upon the oldest- but many younger ones find that their intelligence is worthy enough. There would be bickering amongst each other. But there is no family without conflicts between one another. It’s how they decide to deal with their conflicts..that decide if the family stays as close knit as they were once before.. or not.​

Life-
Life is considered valuable, especially one’s own- to the point of selfishness. In times of crisis or dire risk to one’s life.. a Moor would think about themselves before others. For their own safety, they would flee, risk being marked as cowards, or put others at risk to harm so that they may get to live longer, unmarked by death.​
It is a different matter when one has a family to take care of, has become an Elder or has devoted themselves to another person or task. Other lives become more precious than their own and they would put themselves at risk to harm and death, not just their own, so that their families and devoted ones could live longer than them. In order to protect other lives they consider precious, or their beliefs, they turn ruthless and destructive to those that harm it.​


Death-
Death is an inevitable process and all Moors recognize that life in the mortal realm must end eventually. It is an accepted, tragic and natural piece wherein when someone dies through old age or even escalated unexpected means- it is not a great tragedy. There is also a trait of indifference when they see or hear that another has died as it happens frequently in their lifetimes. Their temperance towards Death is not due to carelessness, but due to an acceptance of Death: “All things end”. They would burn the remains and let the soul find its way to the after realm.​
Of course, there is a difference when someone close dies too early in life, or was brutally taken. Even more so when a whole Clan is massacred. Many find the death as unacceptable, irreversible and find it difficult to accept in their ways and become ruthless in pursuit of righting wrongs.. because as stated before: Life is considered valuable.​

Funerals-
Funerals foresaw a difference in class patterns. Triangular Pyres made of Dark-Oak wood surrounded by misshapen crude stone in a circular formation is the ideal setting of a Mol’Mar or Tel’ Moor funeral. Otherwise known as “Bonefires”. Bodies are burned underneath the pyres and are alit for hours and days until only a few bones remain. The bones are either then buried or crushed to dust.​
Noble and wealthy Moors who have reached a standing in society are placed inside Crypts without being burnt. The body’s form is preserved as much as possible even after death, do to respect and loyalty to the fallen Moor, so that relatives can pray for them after passing.​
During the past times of Great Battles that lasted for months and several winters- bodies tended to pile up during sieges. Instead of picking out the Nobles to be placed in Crypts, it was more convenient in resorting to burn the Moors in a pile of “Bonefires” and logs that burned for days.​

Magic-
Note: No magic in backstories at all! {Click for Mergic Forums}
Over the course of time, magic has become a rare ability. Those few who have learned to wield the art of the Schools or of the Divines - are considered with respect, fear and awe. They are shown high acclaim and honor. The reason it’s placed so highly up on a pedestal is because magic signifies unknown power and inner strength; a whole spiritual essence in the hands of a mortal. It’s a factor that is not predictable, and so Moors find it fascinating, as well as those who use it. Even though they are respected for their gift in a way, those who wield magic and the like are avoided as much as possible and approached in caution. It’s rarely pursued, as Magic is unpredictable and can lead to unwanted outcomes and consequences. Yet.. a small allure of magic is always there, regardless of risk.​

Love-
Love is in accordance to life-long companionship. It is not often that an Elf seeks love, or ever- but with such a long life span, Moors find themselves seeking companionship in many occurrences and devote themselves to their other half. Love and Courtship is a private occurrence and mostly occurs in the privacy of homes or special places where the two significant ones in question meet.​
Marriage bonding is the most simplest joining of two Clans- and mostly a form of contract rather than of Love.​

Generalized Relations with other Races-
Moors prefer to live among their own- but they do frequently come into contact with other races. There is a brief generalized relation towards each one that has been built in several centuries of living.​

  • Forest/Silver Elves: Borderlines upon tolerating the “Kin”-like Elves. Some are wary as they are regarded in low manners, others show respect and are enjoyable company.
  • Dwarves: Dislikable and wary of- Avoiding at all costs as Dwarves are considered irrational, stubborn and single-minded.
  • Humans: Amusing, short-tempered creatures that are known to be detestable and hostile, but tolerable and enjoyable on occasions.
  • Earthspawn: Regarded as curious, simple- minded creatures that can be swayed easily but dealt with carefully.
  • Halflings: Not regarded much, yet many find them harmless.
  • The Nakam: Unknown- these creatures tend to be rare and rarely interacted with. Disregarded completely or seen with some curiosity, if nothing else.
  • Caparii: Curious creatures as well and dealt with carefully. Disregarded and ignored if not.
The relations with other races is usually not reciprocal as many, if not all, races regard Moors in a lowly manner. Moors are typically avoided or despised due to their strange and unknown nature and culture. Of course, race relations can grow and differ for each individual Moor or Clan and so on.​

Culture
Language of Mok’yra
An ancient sacred language used by the Moors to communicate among themselves in secret during the War on Grief. Only Moors who have grown up around other Moors have the ability to learn the language at an early age. A Non-Moor or a Moor who has grown up without knowledge of their race are subject to being taught the language only if they find a willing teacher.​
Learning Mok’yra: It is a rare thing to find a Mok’yra teacher- as Moors were forbidden to teach non-Moors about the sacred language in the past. If they are caught- they must undergo cruel trials brought upon by other Clan members. One cannot just “Read” Mok’yra from a book. It must be first taught through word of mouth by only a Moor. The process is long and tedious and even the fastest of learners take years and years to fully grasp it in fluency, if not ever. It is possible to learn a few written symbols if seen often enough, but writing is as difficult to learn as it is to learn to speak it. Once being able to speak the language, it is more easier for one to write the language.​
Learning Process: All teachings must be done through a normal RP pace. If there are gaps between teaching, then there will be gaps between learning. Learning a language requires a lot of time in lessons via RP- Do not wait out the set-timed minimum caps, for you will learn nothing with one or two lessons in the time of a month. Lessons can be taught using words from the current Mok’yra Lexicon.​
+Moor learning Mok’yra through a Non-Moor: No progress​
+Moor learning Mok’yra through a Moor:​
Speech; 1 ~ 2 years of RP life. ~1½ Month in real/ooc life.​
Writing; ~Two thirds of a year of RP life: ~3 weeks in real/ooc life.​

+Non-Moor learning Mok’yra through a Non-Moor: No progress​
+Non-Moor learning Mok’yra through a Moor: Even when learned- it is never in Fluent speak:​
Speech; 3 ~ 4 years of RP life. ~3 Months in real/ooc life.​
Writing; 1 ~ 2 years of RP life: ~1½ Months in real/ooc life.​

Example;​
Male Names: Uleran, Risgarh, Maleel, Evos​
Female Names: Eliimar, Lisabet, Syrintella, Nirelar​

Religion
Religion is a subtle part of a Moor’s life. Its a small presence of belief - enough for them to follow one of the many different ideals laid out before them during their average lifetime. There is no denying the god’s existence as their presence have been made aware in the past The goddesses and gods are put in high regards due to their magical properties- moving the people to follow upon their power- and each power is distinct. There is a sense of respect, curiosity and fear for the greater beings. Though presence is always there, not all devote themselves to one goddess/god or another. Some Moors have steered away from worship, as they see that the gods/goddesses are not all omnipotent, they fear their powers .. or they find them meddlesome and not worthy of their respect- and so they live their lives without their worship.​

Attire
Among the Clans, casual attires in residence areas includes long woolen robes, dresses, and tunics. Colors vary amongst each Clan- it is not uncommon to find many who wear neutral colors of Black, White and Grey. The most Noble Moors prefer long and detailed robes of velvet in the comfort of their own domain- and they commonly wear cooler shades of the color spectrum such as Purple and Dark Blue mixed in with details of warm colored linings and stitches such as gold. These colors symbolize nobility and wealth. Those of the lower class are known to wear warmer colors- Red and mostly Yellow. Green is generally avoided as it is the color of the Forest- and not of the Moor. Religious worshippers carry colored trinkets or dyed parts of their attire - belts, bags, cloaks - to the colors of their deities. Especially those following green favored deities. As with all dye- one must continuously care for dyed clothes, so that it doesn’t fade away over time.​


Neutral dyed leather is also favorable as traveling attire during fair or warm weather. Leather vests, corsets, cloaks, and belts are common as they are sturdy for long uses and require minimum attention for damage or repairing compared to robes that snag easily or need extra washing every once in a while. Leather boots are the most common footwear.​
In heavily cold or snowy weather, animal fur cloaks of foxes, bears, wolves - are used over heavy clothed layering of wool or velvet and leather robes and tunics - though Moors are rarely found traveling North among the ice barren terrain, it is not uncommon for one to settle among the cold mountain tops.​


The attire one wears is also in line to one’s social status. In regards to this- if a Clanless Moor is recognized to be wearing Noble attire- they are disregarded and looked down on.​
Noble Moors are seen wearing robes of wool or velvet, long leather tunics or detailed gowns- and many are adorned with jewelry. Showing wealth, power, and nobility. Some Nobles are even seen with silk robes- silk is a rare material and only the wealthiest are able to obtain it. It is not uncommon for a noble to dress in leather to hide their status among the outside society.​
Religious Moors wear strictly long robes of wool. Some enjoy adorning themselves with trinkets or jewelry​
Moors of lesser Nobilities are mostly seen to be wearing woolen tunics or traveling leather attire in almost every turn up.​

Jewelry/Ornaments
Jewelry is worn mainly by Females, and few Males, to show ranking among the Clans. The more jewelry one flaunts, the more wealthy, prideful, or powerful one is shown to be. Jewelry includes earrings, bracelets, elaborate necklaces, headpieces, hair ornaments and such.​
Some ornaments include casual arm bands, wrist bracelets, leg bracelets, and waist bracelets. These are generally made with rich material such as silver, gold or metal and stylized as mock armour. They would be thin material, easily breakable, and strictly for decorational purposes.​
Ornaments of the Patriarch - The Hal’Mar Clans Patriarch carry emblem ornaments to symbolize their Clan’s symbol, colors or signs. Over time, these ornaments have been passed down from generation to generation of Elders. They include headpieces, wristbands, necklaces and brooches adorned in jewels and of rich material such as gold or silver. Patriarch’s of the Mol’Mar Clans tend to use smaller and lesser jeweled ornaments such as ring bands of cheaper material.​
‘Tel Clans carry no Ornaments.​

Diet/Food
Moors prefer dishes revolved around varieties of red and white meats - cow, horse, lamb, chicken, pork, and rabbit. Noble Moors have had the luxury of extravagant dishes filled with roasted, oily and salted meat cooked over fire-camps and fireplaces. Their tolerances for alcohol aids in calculated consumption of a well-made red wine. Although over consumption of drinks leads to increase in aggressiveness, dizziness and clouded judgement. Those of the lesser Clans have become acquainted with tasteless stews for the majority of their lives which leads them to be malnourished and overly bony in figure.​
Note: Before delving deeper into the Questionable diets of Moors- I would like to clarify that Moors are not “Beasts” or “Animals” that can rip flesh off anything or anyone with their non-existent sharp teeth and start drinking their blood or eating them down. That goes for any other Race. You may find this silly to clarify, but it apparently needs to be said. Reminder that they are a subculture of /Elves/.​
Clarification on Blood Drinking: Animal blood of goats, pigs or cattle are used as a side-dishes /in prepared food/ as sauces in soups and stews. Blood Sausages are also common in quarterly dishes of Noble Moors. There is no need for them to use Blood in their dishes. There is no underlying desire for it- they just enjoy it as a cultural trait.​
Clarification on Cannibalism: Moors do not go around eating /any/ other Races or their own as part of their culture. Not at all. Mis-interpretations of their enjoyment of eating /animal/ meat, or false rumors, is fine In-Game.​
Note 2.0: Do not misuse the terms and think this means your character can drink blood from people/any other race- or eat them. No such thing should occur or happen
(Yes, I have to give 4 different notes and clarifications for you)​

Traditions/Ceremonies
+ Coming of Age Ceremony: When the young Moor reaches to the age of about 15~18, a private ceremony is held within the immediate Clan. They are requested to fast for half the day. When the sun reaches the highest point in the sky, a duel is held between the young and a selected member of the family, usually the Patriarch or the Elder (In the majority of occurrences, they are the same thing). The tool used is a blade, most usually a rapier. If the young Moor can land three to five cuts upon their opponent, they are considered competent in skill and earn a pass. Those who fail to do so by sunset would have their heads shaved, even the females - to become a mockery until they prove themselves otherwise. After the Ceremony is complete, there is usually a small celebration or feast..​
+ The Patriarch’s Symbol: A trinket of the Clan- an heirloom passed down from Patriarch to Patriarch after the predecessor has passed on or became undeserving of the title.The predecessor is usually the first born male, than any other sons next in line. If no sons are born or are incompetent to carry on the symbol, the first born female and onwards would carry the symbol until their next generation is born and come of age to carry it. A simple ceremony is placed with close blood ties. Food and drink is served as the eldest member of the Clan stands before the new Patriarch, or Elder - a term used for both women and men who hold the highest rank in the Clan - who would then place the heirloom upon him or her to signify a passing of leadership.​
+ Marriage Ceremonies: The Ceremony of joining two souls can be a public occurrence, held in a large open space- preferably outdoors during a clear night. The Male wears white or black velvet robes while the Female in white velvet ones or red. Both are adorned in golden linen of jewels. Jasmine Vines are symbolically draped around a small platform- the white blooming flowers from the vines represent trust from the bond between the Moors. Candles or lanterns cased in red or white glass - are placed and hung around the area. Rose petals are thrown upon the significant souls by close selected few as they pass towards a platform, arms linked together. They stand before the Male Clan’s Patriarch or Elder, or a Religious Priest, exchange vows and trinkets to link each other - and thus a verbal contract is formed. Celebration is held afterwards by the Clans folk of the new Couple.​
Some lovers celebrate in the privacy of their own circle without the need for gallantry. But a Priest or Elder is still present, as a witness, to link the Couple together.​

Holidays
+ Winter Solstice: The longest night of the year is celebrated. It symbolizes the beginning of new life and end of an old one. Some cases, a private event is celebrated differently in each Clan as some worship and perform their own rituals to their specific deities. Usually pertaining to lighting candles around a small homemade shrine and praying. - Some Clans do not follow a deity at all and choose to burn small bonfires out in the public, burning pieces of newly cut wood. To get through the cold days- The meat harvest is freshly slaughtered the night before. The small bonfires are used to cook the fresh meat.. and soon the feast is ready and the drinks are prepared to be consumed.​
In some Mol’Mar Clans- a Bonfire is created every winter to symbolize the Great Wars in the past where many Moors fell to death in battle and were burned... In memory of the “Bonefires”.​

+ Mid-Summer Festival of Masks: A day and night of celebration to fresh harvest- A large bonfire is made out of newly cut wood- Gathered into the center of a circular area and polished stone put around to gather the ashes. Large table full of fresh dishes and brewed drinks is placed to the side- while the rest of the area is open for music to be played and dancing to be done. The music is mostly from drums or small instruments. Gallant Masks are put on to promote a mix of Hal’Mar and Mol’Mar Clans for drink and relations - and to dissolve class tension and struggles for at least one night as they celebrate. Many Tel’ Clans come to ‘crash’ the party on several occasions. In time, the Tel’ were included in the mix and not barred from participating in celebrations.​


Politics

Long ago, the Moor Clans were once a part of a Monarchy. Ruled by a powerful Clan and an Elder that claimed himself “King of the Moors”- passing down the title from generation to generation. But as time ebbed on, the influence of Natri'zima grew weaker and soon, word of a “King of Moors’ vanished as did his presence. With the lack of other Elders claiming up the title, the Moor Clans had decided to become self-governed within the boundaries of their own Clans. It was an effective decision that left all of the Clans into a satisfactory agreement. Yet, as the Elders come together to speak on matters of the race and culture with others of their rankings- the governance and policies of Moors lead into an Oligarchy. A system where the few selected Elders of the Wealthy Nobles lead the culture and decisions of their gathered Clans when time came for organization.​

  • How does one become an Elder? One just needs to be recognized through their leadership skills and those willing to follow them. The other Clan Elders are the judge of this. If they recognize a Moor and his/her following- They are generally known as an Elder- until proven otherwise.

  • What do Moors do in Gatherings? A gathering of Moors are with those of the Elders and those recognized to take part. They decide on serious matters- such as Clan problems, uprisings, and threats against the Clans from outsiders. They gather to find a solution. Rarely does a Tel’ of a Clan become included in such gatherings. Many Elders gathered are generally of the Noble and Middle Class Clans.

  • When do they Gather and how often? Not often- as Moors keep to themselves and close family ties. But when problems that affect a cluster of Moors occurs, they gather more frequently.

  • How do they make a decision? A blood vote is an option to decide between two choices. Yet blood votes are as rare as a golden fish. After long and numerous discussions, a decision is usually made by the majority of the Clan- or by the wealthiest and most powerful Clans- as they tend to have the most favor and individuals upon the gathering.
Taboos
All Taboos are subject to discrimination, criticism and judgement by the Elder of a Clan. In cases where the Taboo act affects those outside of one Clan, the Elder’s of other Clans have the privilege to gather and make a decision of reigning judgement upon the one who acted the Taboo.​
  • Spilling blood from a member of one’s own Clan. This is considered a traitorous act and action to correct the vile folly is brought upon by the Elder of the Clan - unless a valid reason is known.
  • Spilling blood from another Elder of a Clan without practical cause. in which there is no valid reason, besides perhaps to spread fear amongst the Noble Clans. War between Clans occurred mostly in the past due to internal Class struggles and differences of opinions. The rule was placed to keep the race from destroying one another and to weed out the Clans that caused issues and tainted the Moor name.
  • Binding Moor Clans into Slavery . An obsolete practice from long ago by the decisions of gathering Elders and Clan members. As stated earlier, chains and bounds from slavery were broken several decades ago. Such Moors are now seen to be working in average lifestyles as Tel’s.
  • [Past Taboo] Teaching Mok’yra to a Non-Moor. A lighter taboo- But if a Moor was caught teaching Mok’yra, the sacred language to a non-Moor - there were serious consequences, regardless if they are part of a Clan or not. Yet, some say a few Clans have become less-strict on this rule.
Solutions to Taboos
Noble Clans and those who seek justice for wrongdoings enact these punishments.​

  • Temporary Imprisonment
  • Long term Imprisonment
  • Exile, Abandonment
  • Trial of Death
War
Battle Etiquette/Tactics
The Moor Clans have spread out across the lands and find little need to enter into War- Though when it comes to threats upon their homes and Clans, they come together to aid each other, for they are all of the same blood. Guerrilla tactics are the most well known forms of battle techniques practiced by the Moors. Wherein’ small groups of combatants or civilians strategize irregular timings of ambushes, raids, and utilize the importance of mobility and secrecy.​

Weapons
Common weapons used by Moors in Battle: Hal’Mar Clans would embroider their weapons with jewels that symbolize their Clans. You would never see a Moor walking around with a majority of these weapons during casual travel.​

  • The Falchion: One-handed, single-edged sword. Combines the weight and power of an axe and the skillfulness of the sword. Variations of lighter and smaller Falchions are noted for simpler guarding purposes.
  • Flail: One-handed weapon. Includes a separate striking head attached by a rope, strap or chain. Used against armor during war time.
  • Mace: Heavy head on the end to deliver powerful blows. Used against armor during war time.
  • Crossbows: Horizontal bow-like assembly upon a stock- shoots projectiles of bolts and quarrels. Used as defence during war time.
  • War-Scythe/Glaive: Improvised polearm. Blade is extended upright from the polearm. Most practically used against cavalry during war time. Currently- only seen in Armoury holds in Noble Citadels and no where else.



Author: @solus
Proofread: @Faelin
MaelstormPuddle for Original, obsolete, Moor writeup.
(Oman, this takes more than an hour to read.)
 
Last edited:

Faelin

The Court Jester
Retired Staff
A huge thank you to Solus, who has had this patiently ready to go for far longer than I should have left it.

Outstanding work, consider this approved.
 

Solus

object oriented
Staff member
Admin
Retired Owner
Minor note- but needing it posted for clarification & was requested:
+Moorish skin color ranges from light grey to dark grey to dark black. No hues of brown, as those align with Forest elves & Humans.

Edit:
+Albino colors of Moors (which are rare), are not purely white, but range in the faint pale-grey color scheme. I suggest if anyone wants a light skinned Moor, they look to Silver Elves instead.

If any player is having trouble with the color of their Moor's skin on your MC character, send me a private PM with the skin and we'll work it out :)
 
Last edited:

Solus

object oriented
Staff member
Admin
Retired Owner
I added in a color spectrum so the new moors can easily pick skin color and eye color. I noticed people had trouble earlier on and wanted to fix that moving forward.
 
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